EPT13 Malta: €10K High Roller final table live updates

The long heads up battle has finally come to an end after Stefan Jedlicka ground Pierre Neuville down to almost nothing, and then finished him off.

It's all over

Neuville had limp-folded to shoves his last three buttons, but was in no mood to do so for a fourth time. He limp-called off his 6.5 big blind stack.

Jedlicka: K♥9♠Neuville: Q♠J♥

The board ran 7♦T♦8♣Q♦6♣ to make Jedlicka a straight. Neuville thought he had doubled up but the floor person pointed out that is was actually all over. Neuville will take home €288,400 and Jedlicka has claimed a first placed prize of €335,200 and a second title of this festival.

That concluds our live coverage from the PokerStars Malta Festival. A wrap of the day's play is up on the blog shortly for your reading pleasure, and we'll see you all in Prague for the last ever EPT stop. --MC

Pierre Neuville min-opened the button to 200,000 and Jedlicka just called after asking for a rough count. The flop came 6♦8♠Q♥ and both checked, as they would the 9♣ turn.

When the Q♦ river landed Jedlicka led out for 175,000, with only a few big blinds behind Neuville made the call.

Jedlicka tapped the table and showed the 3♣4♣ for a bluff, while Neuville turned over the K♠T♠ for just king-high. "Nice call," said Jedlicka. Neuville has just 1.1 million to Jedlicka's 6.1 million. --JS

Stefan Jedlicka has picked off a few of Pierre Neuville's river bluffs during this heads-up battle and his latest 'look up' has seen him take his biggest lead to date in this heads-up battle.

In the hand in question Neuville limped and Jedlicka checked his option. On the J♦3♣9♠ flop Jedlicka check-called a bet of 150,000 and the J♠ turn was then checked through. On the 3♠ river Neuville bet 400,000 and Jedlicka snap called with K♠T♠ which was well ahead of Neuville's 6♥2♣.

That dropped Neuville below the 20 big blind mark and on the next hand he lost a few more. Jedlicka limped, Neuville raised to 300,000 but folded when Jedlicka shoved all-in. It's now 1,660,000 plays 5,580,000. --NW

Pierre Neuville had to admit defeat on the river just now when he bet-folded to drop back down to 2.5 million.

He checked his option after Stefan Jedlicka limped in. Both players checked the 8♥3♦J♣ flop before Neuville led for 150,000 and 200,000 on the 7♠6♣ turn and river. The Belgian was busy tucking into a fruit salad to notice that Jedlicka raised him to 650,000 on the river. When he put his pot of fruit down, he rechecked his cards, and mucked. --MC

Things weren't going Pierre Neuville's way and he found himself at 2 million to 5.2 million of Jedlicka. After picking up the blinds next hand, this one played out.

Neuville limped the button and Jedlicka checked to see the T♥5♠8♠ flop. Jedlicka then check-called a 100,000 bet and the turn came the 6♦. The Austrian checked again. Neuville made it 350,000 and Jedlicka called, before the K♦ completed the board. It checked to Neuville a final time and he made it 375,000. Jedlicka thought for a few moments but eventually called, but mucked when Neuville showed the T♣5♥ for two pair.

For the first time in this heads-up match Pierre Neuville took a slim heads-up lead. That proved crucial when Stefan Jedlicka limped and Neuville made it 275,000 to go. Jedlicka responded by moving all-in for about 3,500,000 and although Neuville capped his cards he folded.

That gave Jedlicka back the lead and he's since stretched clear again. The pot that helped the most began, as most have, with a limp from Jedlicka, Neuville checked and the two players watched on as the flop fell 4♠4♥5♠. It checked through and the 6♠ fell on the turn. Neuville bet 220,000 and Jedlicka smooth called.

The 2♣ fell on the river and Neuville bet again. This time the price to Jedlicka was 400,000, the Austrian didn't call though, instead he raised to 1,300,000 and Neuville folded. It's now 4,800,000 plays 2,400,000. --NW

8:47pm: Even-StevensLevel 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

That's right, each player has 3.6 million chips apiece now.

Pierre Neuville opened to 175,000 off the button and Stefan Jedlicka defended his big blind. The flop came T♠2♠J♦ and both players checked. Jedlicka then faced bets of 200,000 and 600,000 on the 9♦A♦ turn and river. He check-called the first one, but folded to the second bet. --MC

Heads-up play continues

8:40pm: More of the sameLevel 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

I'm very sad to say that we don't have much to report right now. The chips are being passed back and forth, although Pierre Neuville has definitely become more aggressive pre-flop. He's opening more pots on the button, and mixing up his sizing (225K, 255k, 235k etc.)

No big pots to tell you about though; Jedlicka has 3.75 million and Neuville has 3.45 million. --JS

The last seven hands have seen precious little action. Six of them were limped pots and none were worth more than 6.5 big blinds. Pierre Neuville won the lion's share though and is up to 3,300,000. Stefan Jedlicka still leads with 3,900,000. --NW

Pierre Neuville won a couple of small ones, but the profit went in one hand where he was shoved on.

He opened to 200,000 and Stefan Jedlicka called. The flop fell 7♥T♠9♥ and Neuville continued for 225,000. Jedlicka looked down at his cards, peered at how much his opponent had behind. It was 2.5 million and Jedlicka put him to the test for all of it. The Belgian thought for 20 seconds and folded. --MC

While most pots have been limped pre-flop, this time Pierre Neuville made it 180,000 on the button and Stefan Jedlicka called. The flop fell K♦J♦4♦ and it checked to the raiser, letting Neuville fire a c-bet of 210,000. Jedlicka went nowhere.

The turn then came the T♦ and both checked, just as they would on the 6♣ river.

"Four," said Jedlicka, showing the 4♥7♠, but Neuville had the Q♥Q♠ and took it down. He's up to around 2.7 million now, playing Jedlicka's 4.5 million. --JS

7:45pm: Play resumesLevel 26 - Blinds 40,000/80,000 (10,000 ante)

Level 26 is underway, let's see if Pierre Neuville can mount a fightback. --MC

It was a limped pot and both checked the 9♠9♦6♣ flop. When the 9♣ turn came Neuville led out for 150,000, and Jedlicka called, followed by the K♣ river. Neuville checked and Jedlicka made a big bet of 800,000. That took it down. --JS

Just when it seemed the momentum was with Pierre Neuville it's swung back to Stefan Jedlicka. The Belgian raised it up to 155,000 on the button and Jedlicka smooth called from the big blind. Both players checked the 6♣3♥9♦ flop and the K♦ fell on the turn. Neuville bet 225,000 and Jedlicka stuck around.

The 3♦ river paired the board and completed the diamond flush draw, Neuville bet 600,000 and Jedlicka tank-called. Neuville rolled over T♣7♥ for ten high and Jedlicka showed 9♣8♥ for a great call. He's up to 4,510,000 while Neuville drops to 2,730,000. --NW

Pierre Neuville has ground out a few small pot wins and sits just 400,000 behind his opponent. One of those hands got to showdown.

Stefan Jedlicka opened to 130,000 on the button and Neuville peeled from the big blind. The flop fell A♥T♣5♠ and Neuville check-called a 110,000 c-bet. No more chips made it into the middle as the 9♥3♥ turn and river were checked through. Neuville opened J♦5♥ and Jedlicka mucked. --MC

A 10 big blind swing has seen Stefan Jedlicka climb to 4,630,000 and Pierre Neuville slip to 2,600,000. The key hand in this process occured when Neuville raised to 140,000 from the button and Jedlicka called. Neither player bet the 7♥Q♦4♥ flop but Jedlicka bet 200,000 on the 5♠ river. Call from Neuville. On the A♥ river Jedlicka bet a further 800,000 and Neuville mucked his hand. --NW

Pierre Neuville won some chips back and then got shoved on the very next hand.

Stefan Jedlicka limped in from the button and Neuville checked his option to see a 9♠K♣T♠ flop. Jedlicka bet 60,000 and was check-called. Both players checked 6♣ turn and Neuville bombed the river for 350,000. Fold.

The very next hand, Neuville opened to 160,000 and then tank-folded when Jedlicka moved all-in. That dropped him down to 1.6 million. --MC

Pierre Neuville is winning enough small pots to ensure he's still in this contest, but he's losing all the big ones and that's not a recipie for sucess.

The first of two more significant pots to go Stefan Jedlicka's way began when he limped the button and Neuville checked the big blind. Neither player bet the 8♠T♥6♦ flop and the A♠ hit the turn. Bet of 150,000 from Neuville, call from Jedlicka. The 8♠ completed the board and Neuville opted to check-call a bet of 500,000. He soon wished that he hadn't as Jedlicka showed J♣8♦ for trip eights. I'm no tells expert but Neuville's face said it all, he'd been rivered.

The next decent pot for Jedlicka began in the same way and the two players took in a 7♠2♣2♦ flop. Jedlicka bet 100,000, Neuville check-raised to 350,000 and Jedlicka smooth called. On the 6♣ turn Neuville check-folded to a bet of 400,000. It's now 1,600,000 plays 5,640,000 in Jedlicka's advantage. --NW

6:40pm: More for JedlickaLevel 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Pierre Neuville tried a turn check-raise, but he couldn't shift Stefan Jedlicka off a weak pair, and fell further behind as a result.

Neuville raised to 125,000 off the button and Jedlicka called before both checked a K♦3♣4♦ flop. The turn was the K♠ and Jedlicka led for 135,000, Neuville then raised to 375,000 and Jedlicka called. The 2♦ filled out the board and Jedlicka opened 7♠4♥ after both players checked again. Neuville stared at his opponent's hand for 20 seconds and then released his cards to the dealer. He dropped to just under 1.9 million. --MC

The first big pot of heads-up play has gone to Stefan Jedlicka and, as a result, he's stretched out to a near two to one chip lead.

The Austrian player opened to 100,000 from the button and Neuville defended his big blind. On the Q♥T♥6♠ flop Jedlicka bet 150,000 and Neuville called. The 6♥ turn both paired the board and completed the flush draw. Neuville elected to lead, betting 190,000. Call from Jedlicka. On the 8♥ river Neuville fired again, he bet 500,000 and Jedlicka tanked for a couple of minutes before calling the bet. It was a great call as Neuville could only muster A♠9♠ and Jedlicka took the pot with A♣Q♠.

After that hand Neuville is down to 2,400,000 while Jedlicka is up to 4,840,000. -NW

6:20pm: Cards are back in the airLevel 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Heads up play is underway.

6:01pm: A short break and no dealLevel 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

The heads-up counts are really close:

Name

Country

Status

Chips

Stefan Jedlicka

Austria

3,690,000

Pierre Neuville

Belgium

3,550,000

Pierre Neuville seemed keen to broach the subject of a deal but Stefan Jedlicka said that if he were to deal he'd need more than the chip chop numbers would give him. So for now there is no deal, the players are now on a 10-minute break. Play will resume at 18.10 local time. --NW

Stefan Jedlicka has gotten himself heads up for the title with Pierre Neuville after he eliminated Theo Jorgensen.

The Team PokerStars Pro went in third

He moved all-in from the small blind for 650,000 effective. Jorgensen, who had lost a couple of small pots before this hand, said, "Well, let's look at these cards one at a time. The first one's good, and the second's even better - I call!"

Theo Jorgensen has basically doubled his stack without a showdown. Well, with one showdown, but that was a chopped pot. It happened when Stefan Jedlicka opened to 100,000, Jorgensen jammed for 645,000 and Jedlicka called.

Jorgensen: A♠8♠Jedlicka: A♥8♥

"Nice hand," said Jorgensen. "Let's chop it up," added Jedlicka. That's exactly what they did as the board ran 6♥9♣K♠A♣4♥.

A few hands later it folded to Jorgensen in the small blind and he raised to 350,000 - which was an effective all-in as he had less back - and curiously Pierre Neuville just flat called. On the 2♥Q♣J♥ flop Jorgensen moved all-in and Neuville folded.

That got the Dane up to 970,000 and he's since taken a couple more pots down with pre-flop three-bets and is up to 1,200,000. He's still the short stack but he's up to 24 big blinds now. --NW

The rail has gone very quiet and very non-Scottish after Niall Farrell and Ludovic Geilich's buddy Michael Kane fell in fourth.

The hand before he busted, he successfully three-bet all-in from the big blind for 535,000. Pierre Neuville folded but Stefan Jedlicka wasn't going to fold the very next hand. He raised from the button and snapped the shove.

Jedlicka: K♦Q♦Kane : K♣9♣

The board ran a roller-coaster A♦2♥K♥9♦3♦ to make Jedlicka a flush. He moved over the 3 million mark. --MC

Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen found himself as the shortest stack of the four remaining players and quickly went about trying to rectify that. He shoved from the button for 325,000 and got no takers.

On the next hand Jorgensen jammed again, this time it was 415,000 total, Pierre Neuville min-raised and everyone else folded.

Jorgensen: K♠8♠Neuville: 7♣7♥

"Ok," said Jorgensen, happy to see that he was racing. The A♦K♠6♦ flop was good for the Dane. "That's a good start," he said. The 6♥ turn and Q♦ river were also good cards for Jorgensen and he doubled to 930,000, while Neuville drops to 3,000,000. --NW

We're down to four and Pierre Neuville has added an extra million to his stack. The Belgian opened to 130,000 and Cristian Egues jammed for 1.04 million on the button. When it got back to Neuville he made the call, and the cards were revealed:

Egues - A♠K♣Neuville - Q♣Q♥

The most classic of all the classic races. On this occasion the ladies held up as the board came T♦T♣4♦5♦4♠. Egues said his goodbyes, and Neuville is up to 3.4 million now. --JS

Michael Kane's stack has slipped to 680,000 after he lost a smallish pot to Pierre Neuville.

The latter opened to 125,000from the cutoff and Kane defended from the big blind. The Scotsman check-called 130,000 on a K♦T♥2♣ flop. The J♠ turn was checked through before Neuville took down the pot with a 350,000 bet on the A♠ river. --MC

5:14pm: Chip countsLevel 25 - Blinds 25,000/50,000 (5,000 ante)

Stefan Jedlicka leads right now, while times are tough for Theo Jorgensen. --JS

Michael Kane gestured at Ludovic Geilich and Niall Farrell to get up as he was all-in again. He'd three-bet all-in for 525,000 with J♣J♦ and Stefan Jedlicka had raise/called with 6♣6♦.

"This time we don't want a six," said Kane, referencing his earlier pot against Theo Jorgensen. A Q♣9♦T♥T♦7♠ board was just what Kane wanted and he doubles to 1,100,000 while Jedlicka is down to 2,100,000. --NW

Kane sweats a six

4:48pm: The number of the beastLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Here's a fun one. It started with a 150,000 open by Theo Jorgensen under the gun and it folded to Michael Kane in the big blind who jammed. Jorgensen called and it was his Q♦J♥ overcards against the 9♥9♠ pair of Kane.

The flop fell 6♦6♣6♠. "We don't want a six!" said Kane to his fellow Scots on the rail, Niall Farrell and Ludovic Geilich. Then the turn came the Q♠ to give Jorgensen a bigger full house.

But finally the river was the 6♥, giving both quads with a queen, to make it a chop pot. "We did want a six!" Geilich pointed out after all. Kane has 505,000, Jorgensen has 395,000. --JS

Pierre Neuville made it 105,000 to go on the button and Cristian Egues called in the big blind to see a 5♦9♣J♦ flop. Egues donk-led out for 100,000 and Neuville called, before the turn came the 5♣. Egues then slowed down and checked, and Neuville resumed the betting lead with a 225,000 wager. Egues insta-called.

The river was the K♦ and Egues started counting chips. He made it 265,000 and Neuville called quickly. Egues tried to muck, but his cards flipped over - the T♣8♥ for a busted up-and-down straight draw. Neuville patiently waited to check he was ahead and then turned over his A♥A♣. With that he went up to 2.4 million, while Egues dips to 1.23 million. --JS

Stefan Jedlicka has started to really turn the screw on his opponents. He's proven in the past that he's a good front-runner, and he's proving it again today. He won two pots with raise and takes before taking one of Pierre Neuville in the blinds.

Neuville raised to 105,000 from the small blind and Jedlicka defended his big blind to see a 7♥3♣7♦ flop. Neuville continued for 155,000 and was called before the 4♦J♠ turn and river were checked. The Belgian opened Q♦2♠ but lost out to Jedlicka's A♣T♥.

Jedlicka moved up to 2.7 million and Neuville dropped to 1.58 million. --MC

"The turn card f##%%d me," said Cristian Egues, but did he win or lose the pot? Read on to find out...

Pierre Neuville opened to 105,000 from the cutoff and Egues (small blind) and Michael Kane (big blind) both called. On the 5♠A♠T♥ flop Neuville continued for 160,000, Egues check-raised to 465,000 and Kane folded. At this point the Spaniard had just 600,000 back and Neuville got counts on both his bet and stack before proceeding. He called.

Before the turn could be dealt Egues said: "All-in without seeing the card," and shoved his 600,000 across the line. The dealer then produced the T♣ and Neuville now had a big decision. He ate a few forkfuls of fruit as he weighed up his move. He had 2,175,000 back and eventually elected to preserve his stack. Egues showed A♦5♦ as he took the pot. "We were splitting," said Neuville after the hand. Egues is up to 1,875,000. --NW

Theo Jorgensen made it 100,000 to go from the small blind after it folded to him and Pierre Neuville defended his big blind. They saw a T♠8♣Q♦ flop and Jorgensen chose not to c-bet. Both checked to see the 4♥ turn and when Jorgensen checked again Neuville bet 125,000. Jorgensen called and the board was completed by the 5♦. It went check check.

Jorgensen showed the 4♦J♦ for a pair of fours, but Neuville was best with the T♥9♠. The Belgian has 2.655 million now, while Jorgensen is below ten bigs with 395,000. --JS

Pierre Neuville opened to 105,000 two hands in a row and both times Cristian Egues jammed on him. The first time Neuville folded and showed the A♠, while Egues showed the Q♥. The second time Neuville folded and showed the Q♦, while Egues showed the A♣. --JS

4:09pm: Jorgensen 3.75xLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

Not much to report, but Theo Jorgensen just did something a little unusual. Jorgensen opened to 150,000 - 3.75 times the big blind - and everyone folded. --JS

The two biggest stacks belong to Pierre Neuville and Stefan Jedlicka and they just played a blind vs blind pot against each other. Neuville made it 110,000 from the small blind and Jedlicka called to see the T♥T♠J♥ flop. The Belgian continued for 125,000 and was called.

That took us to fourth street and it came the T♦ putting three tens out there. Neuville made it 300,000 to see the river, but Jedlicka gave it up. Neuville now has 2.59 million, Jedlicka's on 2.23 million. --JS

4pm: Chip countsLevel 24 - Blinds 20,000/40,000 (5,000 ante)

It's close at the top as level 24 gets underway with Stefan Jedlicka having (just) knocked Pierre Neuville off the top spot for the first time today.

IPT High Roller champion from last week - Stefan Jedlicka - has picked up real momentum since doubling up. He just won a huge pot off Theo Jorgensen to see his stack rise to around 2.5 million.

He opened to 60,000 from under the gun and was called by both players in the blinds. The flop fanned 3♠8♦A♦ and only Jorgensen check-called a 70,000 c-bet from the small blind. Both players checked the 3♥ turn before Jorgensen bombed the 9♣ river for 300,000. Jedlicka then raised to 925,000 and the Team PokerStars Pro flicked in a chip indicating an immediate call.

"F&*k, f&*k, f&*!" said Jorgensen after he was shown 9♦9♠ by Jedlicka for a rivered full house. Jorgensen flashed the 3♦ and mucked, dropping to 595,000. --MC

A limped blind on blind pot gave no clues as to what was to follow. On the 6♦K♣K♥ flop Stefan Jedlicka led for 30,000 and Cristian Egues smooth called. The 5♥ fell on the turn adn Jedlicka gave up the betting lead but check-called a bet of 150,000. The 6♥ completed the board, Jedlicka checked and Egues shoved for an effective 400,000.

This sent Jedlicka deep into the tank and he took off his sunglasses. He thoguht for a good three minutes before calling. Egues nodded and showed 9♦5♣ for two pair with a nine kicker, Jedlicka had 6♣2♣ though for kings full of sixes. He's up to 1,250,000 while Euges is down to 950,000. --NW

After losing those two pots in a row, Liviu Ignat open-shoved the cutoff for 435,000 and was insta-called by Theo Jorgensen on the button. "Just a call," Jorgensen reminded everyone, but they all folded anyway.

Ignat - A♣J♣Jorgensen - 7♥7♠

It was a race, and it was one the Dane would win. The board came out Q♥5♥6♣7♣, giving Ignat a flush draw and Jorgensen a set. The 3♠ river changed nothing and Ignat is gone, while Jorgensen increases to 1.71 million. --JS

Liviu Ignat is getting shorter after he lost a pot to Michael Kane on his right, and then one to Theo Jorgensen on his left. It left him with 515,000.

Kane completed from the small blind and then jammed over Ignat's raise to 85,000. The Romanian pro folded.

The next hand, he raised to 80,000 from the small blind and Jorgensen peeled from the big blind to see a 7♠2♠K♣ flop. Ignat continued for 65,000 and the Team PokerStars Pro called. The turn was the 2♥ and Ignat check-folded to a 100,000 bet. --MC

This Spaniard may not have much live tournament success to his name but he's not afraid to make some moves. After Theo Jorgensen opened the cutoff to 70,000, Pierre Neuville was on the button. The Belgian then three-bet to 185,000 and it folded to Egues in the big blind. He instantly announced "all-in" and Jorgensen folded quickly. Neuville's hand would join Theo's in the muck after a little while, and Egues said "No bluff". He has 1.7 million now, while Neuville has 2.225 million. --JS

The other live satellite winner left aside from Cristian Egues is Brit Michael Kane, and he's just doubled up, bringing his stack out of the danger zone.

He open-jammed for 320,000 and it folded to Stefan Jedlicka who made the call in the big blind. Kane had the 3♥3♠ and had to hold against the A♣Q♠, which he did on the 9♥9♦7♥J♦3♦ runout.

Jedlicka drops to 405,000 and to the shortest stack, while Kane now has 685,000. --JS

3:10pm: Egues rips itLevel 23 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (5,000 ante)

There's no doubt that Cristian Egues is a fun player to watch and he's definitely the one bringing the entertainment to this final table. He and Pierre Neuville have clashed in a couple of pots with the Spaniard coming out on top in both.

In the first Neuville opened to 75,000 on the button and Egues simply re-raised all-in for 1,165,000. Neuville smiled at Egues and showed the A♦ as he mucked. As he took the pot Egues showed A♥Q♣.

A couple of hands later Neuvile raised to 70,000 from the hijack and Egues smooth called from the button. On the A♥9♠9♦ flop Neuville continued for 65,000 and Egues stuck around. The Belgian checked the action on the 8♣ turn and Egues took the pot with a 125,000 bet. --NW

After having aces cracked 20 minutes ago (see 2:12pm post), Theo Jorgensen just saw his stack take another hit. The Team PokerStars Pro raised to 55,000 from the button and Stefan Jedlicka called from the big blind. The Q♠J♣9♠ flop checked through and the 7♣ fell on the turn. The Austrian led for 100,000 and Jorgensen called.

The 8♦ river was checked through and Jedlicka's J♦7♦ proved the winner at showdown. --NW

2:19pm: Slow and steadyLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

There's not really too much to report from the past few hands. Liviu Ignat has picked up a couple but with no real drama - just 'raise and take its', either by pre-flop or continuation bets. Neuville also just took down a pot from Michael Kane, who had opened to 50,000 from the cutoff prompting the Belgian to defend his big blind. The flop came 4♥Q♣5♠ and Kane continued for 50,000 which got call, but when the 3♠ turn fell Neuville led out for 95,000 and got the Brit to fold. --JS

The player we know the least about at this final table is Cristian Egues, but what we do know is that he's making this final table a fun affair, as illustrated by this hand.

He opened to 50,000 from the button and Liviu Ignat called from the big blind. The Spaniard bet every street of a 5♦8♣A♠9♥J♦ board with Ignat calling bets of 45,000 and 120,000 on the flop and turn respectively, before folding to a bet of 250,000 on the river. The Spaniard casually showed 4♦2♦ as he took the pot. He's up to 2,000,000 while Ignat drops to 640,000. --NW

"We're GG," Charlie Carrel called to Ben Heath on the rail. "Yeah," said Heath, as he saw that Carrel's open shove of 352,000 with the 2♥2♣ had been re-shoved on by the slightly bigger stack (387,000) of Stefan Jedlicka with the 7♠7♣.

The board ran out T♠4♦4♣5♥8♣ and it was indeed GG for Carrel. "Oh well, bounty time!" said Heath. "Yep, bounty time!" replied Carrel, as he went to collect his winnings.

Jedlicka increased to 803,000, and at the time of writing Carrel is already sitting in the €10K Bounty tournament going on next to this final table. --JS

From one tourney to the next for Carrel

1:50pm: Slow-paced gameLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

The final is playing at a very slow pace so far today. There is a lot of money at stake, so it's unfair to be hypercritical, but you can see a slightly frustrated look on couple of faces at the table.

Stefan Jedlicka lost another pot, this time to Liviu Ignat. He raised to 50,000 from under the gun and was called by the Romanian on the button. Both players checked all the way down through the J♣8♣T♦7♣4♠ board and Jedlicka said, "I hope for the chop, but....." before opening A♦Q♣. It was no good though as Ignat had a pair of tens with A♥T♥.

The hand after that, Theo Jorgensen opened to 53,000 off the button but folded when Pierre Neville three-bet to 138,000 from the small blind. --MC

1:45pm: Chip countsLevel 22 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (4,000 ante)

The first hour of the final table has flown by, this is how the final seven stack up as level 22 gets underway.

Name

Country

Status

Chips

Pierre Neuville

Belgium

2,380,000

Cristian Egues

Spain

Live satellite winner

1,580,000

Theo Jorgensen

Denmark

Team PokerStars Pro

1,180,000

Liviu Ignat

Romania

712,000

Stefan Jedlicka

Austria

520,000

Charlie Carrel

UK

385,000

Michael Kane

UK

Live satellite winner

380,000

1:35pm: Kane on the slideLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Michael Kane is down to 380,000 after losing a pot to Cristian Egues. It was Charlie Carrel who started the action, he raised to 40,000 and picked up calls from Egues (cutoff), Kane (button) and Theo Jorgensen (big blind).

Nobody bet on the 3♥T♥5♣ flop, but on the 4♦ Kane bet 85,000 and Egues was the only caller. The 9♣ fell on the river, Egues checked, Kane bet 180,000 and Egues snap check-raised all-in. Kane took a few seconds to ponder his move but then mucked. After that hand Egues is up to 1,580,000. --NW

1:32pm: One for IgnatLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Michael Kane and Liviu Ignat decided to keep it cheap and played a limp-check pot blind vs blind. The flop came A♠7♥T♦ and Kane led for 21,000. Ignat called to see the a turn and it came the T♥. Kane checked, Ignat led for what was either 28,000 or 53,000 - not that it mattered as Kane quickly folded. --JS

The sole Dane at the final table (and the sole Team Pro that entered this event) Theo Jorgensen opened to 46,000 and it folded to the Spaniard live satellite winner Cristian Egues in the big blind, who defended. The flop came down 5♠3♥5♣ and Egues checked the paired board. Jorgensen then continued for 50,000 and got a call.

The 6♣ landed on the turn and now Egues led out for 80,000. Jorgensen called to see the river, and it would be the Q♠. Egues decided to fire again, this time for 185,000 and Jorgensen snap-called. Egues sheepishly showed the A♥2♥ busted gutshot, while Jorgensen's T♠T♥ were good. He's up to 1.34 million, while Egues falls to 1.145 million. --JS

Tall German Kilian Kramer was the first player to fall today, busting to chip leader Pierre Neuville who has jumped up to 2.15 million.

The action folded around to Neuville on the button and he raised to 50,000. Kramer was in the big blind and three-bet all-in for 370,000. Neuville thought for several minutes, then looked at the dealer and announced a call.

Kramer: A♥Q♣Neuville: K♦T♦

The board ran 9♥K♠J♦J♣Q♥ to make the Belgian a winning two pair.

Charlie Carrel, who was at in between the two players, looked at Neuville and said, "My hero!" --MC

Giddy up and out for Kramer

1:10pm: Small pot pokerLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

This final table hasn't really got out of first gear yet with most pots being won pre-flop or on the flop. Those that do get to the river are only getting there due to the lack of betting on previous streets.

Having said all that, small pots have been won by Stefan Jedlicka, Cristian Egues and Michael Kane.

Meanwhile if you're wondering what Pierre Neuville has for brunch it's two small bowls of cucumber and one small bowl of raw carrots. --NW

12:56pm: A few for TheoLevel 21 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Michael Kane was under the gun now and he too made it 45,000 to play. Liviu Ignat made the call from the utg+1 seat, and the action was on Theo Jorgensen to Ignat's left. He then made a smallish three-bet to 150,000, but it was enough to get both to fold. --JS

A flop was finally seen on the fourth hand of the day. It produced an all-in but no call.

Kilian Kramer opened from under the gun and was only called by Liviu Ignat from the cutoff. The flop fell 9♦T♥4♥ and Kramer checked to face a 40,000 bet. He treated it to a raise all-in for 350,000 and his Romanian opponent made a quick fold. --MC

Pierre Neuville leads the way, while Charlie Carrel and Stefan Jedlicka chase their second (even third) big score here in Malta from the other end of the counts. Play kicks off at 12:32pm, so join here us on the PokerStars Blog all day as we play down to a winner. --JS